Alpine Skiing at the Winter Olympic Games Beijing 2022

[dcro 10,210]

I truly hope this was the last time we saw this "parallel" event at the Olympics.

 

There was nothing parallel about today. It was two timed runs on blue course vs two timed runs on blue course. Strolz gets gold whilst losing all his runs on the red course.

[heywoodu 15,135]

22 minutes ago, dcro said:

I truly hope this was the last time we saw this "parallel" event at the Olympics.

 

There was nothing parallel about today. It was two timed runs on blue course vs two timed runs on blue course. Strolz gets gold whilst losing all his runs on the red course.

But Strolz had a breathtaking display.

 

Spoiler

 

[FireRun 192]

8 hours ago, OlympicsFan said:

Yes, this is why FIS should change the rules. Only have one man and one woman per nation and have all athletes race on both courses. Would also help nations like Slovenia or Sweden who don't quite have the depth.

We had the strongest team ever and would have beaten Austria if Slokar finished her run. She was by far the fastest women out there. You just need two to finish which is a joke. No wonder nobody rates this event and only few top racers chose to participate in it. They need to revamp the whole structure, maybe take some pointers from snowboarding team events. A DNF should cost a team at least 0,50s if not the whole second. 

[heywoodu 15,135]

What's this thing about reserves who didn't see any action getting medals, unlike reserves in other team events?

[Grassmarket 3,402]

12 hours ago, NearPup said:

Looks like the team event is going ahead

Would have been cancelled in any other context.  Well, there is only one other context.  

[De_Gambassi 1,223]

I'm complety in favor of a team event in alpine skiing, but this format... Yeah. In theory, would it be possible to have a relay a la luge (with racers alternating blue and red courses) ? 

 

[Monzanator 4,498]

3 minutes ago, De_Gambassi said:

I'm complety in favor of a team event in alpine skiing, but this format... Yeah. In theory, would it be possible to have a relay a la luge (with racers alternating blue and red courses) ? 

 

There used to be two runs on each course for individual parallel at the start of this event but it lasted too long for TV window so they scaled back to one and it's been unfair 9/10 times since. Obviously they could introduce two runs each again only if men & women would have separate venues which is unlikely to happen.

 

As for team event, technically they are alternating the courses. It's a question of figuring out what is the winning formula. Here in Beijing it was to put your best two skiers on the blue course. Surprise, surprise... eventual gold medal winners Austria did just that - Liensberger & Brennsteiner raced on blue course in QF, SF and Final. I do wonder if Austria noticed that pattern after 1/8 when they had a bye. Total times from two winning runs on blue ALWAYS decided every tie. The gaps to red & DNFs on red were irrelevant.

 

If USA put Shiffrin on blue in SF they would make the final, if they put her on blue in small final they would win bronze. They got lucky de Aliprandini crashed on blue course in QF but it was criminal to keep putting Moltzan on blue after that.